Book rack



Aug; 6, 1940. E. E. VAN DELLE' BOOK RACK Filed Aug. 28, 1959 Eve/eff EVoned e NTOR i ATTO RN EYS Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a book rack and more especially to acollapsible or foldable book rack.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a rack of thischaracter wherein when the same is set up it will hold a group of booksin a convenient manner, giving free access to the books and such booksin the group will be supported by the rack when upon a table or othersupport with uniformity and neatness in the stacking thereof, beingreadily accessible for use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rack of thischaracter wherein the sameis readily foldable in a compact form so thatit can be placed in the least possible space or stored conveniently whennot in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a. rack of thischaracter, wherein the swinging legs have interfitted a platform andthis interfitting being for the purpose of holding the rack in a setupcondition for the carrying of books.

A still further object of the invention is theprovision of a rack ofthis character which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliableand efiicient in operation, neat in appearance, readily and easilymanipulated, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of theinvention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rack constructed in accordancewith the invention and in a setup condition.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof in setupcondition.

Figure 3 is an end view of the rack collapsed or folded.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally the rack inits entirety-and includes a main substantially rectangular shaped 50frame having end posts 5, a top cross rail 6 and intermediate bottom andinner rails l and 8, respectively. These rails 6, 1 and 8 are joinedwith the posts in any suitable manner with the latter in spaced parallelrelation to each other,

55 the lowermost end portions of the posts being fitted with cushions orpads 9 sothat when the main frame is superimposed upon a table orsupport the cushions or pads 9 will prevent marring thereof, especiallywhen the rack is burdened with a load and the main frame is in anupright position upon said table or support.

At one side of the main frame and mounted upon the posts 5 close to thetop rail 6 are double leaf hinges l0 which are also attached tothe upperends of foldable props or sustaining legs I I, these being swingabletoward and away from the posts 5 and when swung away from the same havetheir lower ends, which carry cushions or pads l2, engaged with thetable or support so that the main frame will be sustained in an uprightposition, being the position when the rack is in a setup condition foruse.

Attached to the lower or bottom rail 1 are double leaf hinges l3 whichare also attached to a swinga'ole slatted platform M, the outermost slat[5 of which at the outer longer edge thereof next to the narrow ends ofsaid slats being engageable in notches I6 cut transversely into theprops or legs I! in the inner side faces thereof next to the saidplatform I4. In this manner, that is to say, the engagement of the slatIS in the notches It in theprops or legs II the rack in a setup usablecondition is obtained. The books (not shown) are to be stacked or placedvertically upon the platform I 4 to be held when the rack is set up ingroup.

When the rack is not set up for use in supporting a group of books theplatform I 4 is folded inwardly toward the main frame to besubstantially parallel therewith and similarly the props 'or legs I lare folded inwardly toward the posts 5 and such rack conveniently storedin the least possible space and is rendered compact.

What is claimed is:

A rack comprising a main frame having end posts forming legs, propshinged to the posts for swinging movement toward and away from the sameand having notches at the inner sides thereof and horizontally alignedwith each other, a platform swingable between the posts and the saidprops and carried by the main frame at the lowermost portion thereof andhaving spaced parallel slats and cross tie pieces removed from the endsof said slats, the said cross pieces being located in the platform to bedisposed between the props, an outermost slat of said platform beyondthe said cross pieces adapted for engagement in the notches in the saidprops for the interfitting of the platform and the latter and sustainingthe rack in a setup condition, and

